angel
08-10-2009, 12:03 AM
I wasn't going to post about this but it is relevent. For 30 years I have walked with forearm crutches. I learned when i was 18 months and have been using them since. The first crutches I had, had cuffs on them that were leather (i have pics of them on my profile) but it couldn't come off your arm. Around the age of 3 i got a different style but they were very functional. The cuff wasn't complete but it wouldn't fall off your arm and the cuff would move so they were easy to use. The only problem was I could go through 2 pair a year. When my mom complained once about the fact that they break all the time the guy at the clinic said "well they don't expect them to be used as much as she uses them." Kind of an odd statment what are they for if not to be used?
Two years ago I got another "upgrade" if you can call it that. I was given a new style of crutches. They are much prettier than the old metal and gray ones they come in a variety of colors etc. and I was told that the way they are made they would make it easier on my sholders. I thought that was good because after 30 years of walking on crutches there is a certian amount of wear and tear on your arms. The thing about them is they are NOTHING like the ones I had used for over 25 years. The best way I can explain just how hard it is to adjust to something so different to one who does not walk with crutches is like this. It is almost like for someone who can walk to turn their feet backwards and walk that way. It is completly akward. Now try to function like that on a daily basis!
The crutches I have now the cuff doesn't even go half way around my arm. Needless to say my butt has hit the ground at least 500 times in the past year. This morning I went to the store and as I was getting out of my truck (the one that is way to big for me anyway but that is a funny story for another time) my crutch slipped off my arm and I fell out of the truck and smacked my head on the pavement. usually I laugh about it when I fall cause it is usually funny but today it was just the last straw. I came home and told my husband that I am throwing these crutches out even if i have to crawl from place to place. I have learned a valuable lesson and it is this. Just because these crutches are better on my sholders my butt and my head are suffering greatly. I tried the new "better" style and I just have to say it don't work for me at all. I will take function over cute any day! I have also learned if something has worked so well for you for so long KEEP IT.
My husband wanted me to get checked out because I begain throwing up shortly after I got home (I probably shouldn't have driven home) and I got a slight concussion from this morning's incident. Falling happens to all of us and I am the first to say that. I have taken thousands of spills in my day however I finally got it through my thick head that if the equipment you use doesn't work for you then don't suffer for a long time go with what you know!
Angel
Two years ago I got another "upgrade" if you can call it that. I was given a new style of crutches. They are much prettier than the old metal and gray ones they come in a variety of colors etc. and I was told that the way they are made they would make it easier on my sholders. I thought that was good because after 30 years of walking on crutches there is a certian amount of wear and tear on your arms. The thing about them is they are NOTHING like the ones I had used for over 25 years. The best way I can explain just how hard it is to adjust to something so different to one who does not walk with crutches is like this. It is almost like for someone who can walk to turn their feet backwards and walk that way. It is completly akward. Now try to function like that on a daily basis!
The crutches I have now the cuff doesn't even go half way around my arm. Needless to say my butt has hit the ground at least 500 times in the past year. This morning I went to the store and as I was getting out of my truck (the one that is way to big for me anyway but that is a funny story for another time) my crutch slipped off my arm and I fell out of the truck and smacked my head on the pavement. usually I laugh about it when I fall cause it is usually funny but today it was just the last straw. I came home and told my husband that I am throwing these crutches out even if i have to crawl from place to place. I have learned a valuable lesson and it is this. Just because these crutches are better on my sholders my butt and my head are suffering greatly. I tried the new "better" style and I just have to say it don't work for me at all. I will take function over cute any day! I have also learned if something has worked so well for you for so long KEEP IT.
My husband wanted me to get checked out because I begain throwing up shortly after I got home (I probably shouldn't have driven home) and I got a slight concussion from this morning's incident. Falling happens to all of us and I am the first to say that. I have taken thousands of spills in my day however I finally got it through my thick head that if the equipment you use doesn't work for you then don't suffer for a long time go with what you know!
Angel